Extradition from Dubai to Turkey means requesting the United Arab Emirates authorities to surrender a person who has been located in Dubai and is subject to an investigation, prosecution, or final prison sentence in Turkey. Dubai is not a separate state but one of the emirates forming the UAE; therefore, the request is not limited to correspondence with Dubai Police.
The principal UAE legislation is Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, as amended in 2023. The general national framework is explained on the UAE–Turkey extradition page; this article focuses specifically on the stages of a case directed from Dubai to Turkey.
Under what conditions may Turkey request extradition from Dubai?
Under Article 22 of Turkish Law No. 6706, a Turkish judicial authority may request the extradition of a person for whom an arrest warrant or detention order has been issued. At the investigation or trial stage, the offence must carry a maximum sentence of at least one year’s imprisonment; for a final judgment, at least four months of imprisonment must remain.
The UAE’s official judicial-cooperation guidance likewise refers to offences punishable by at least one year’s imprisonment for an accused person and a custodial sentence of at least six months for a convicted person. Dual criminality—meaning that the conduct constitutes an offence under both Turkish and UAE law—is also examined.
Which authorities participate in the Dubai proceedings?
The International Cooperation Department of the UAE Ministry of Justice conducts central coordination. Locating the person and taking the first measures in Dubai may involve Dubai Police and Dubai Public Prosecution. The legal conditions for extradition are assessed by the competent court of appeal and the judicial and administrative authorities designated by federal law.
Because of this division of responsibilities, a police record or an Interpol message alone is not sufficient for final surrender. A duly prepared Turkish extradition file must reach the UAE central authority and satisfy the conditions of federal law.
How is the extradition file prepared in Turkey?
| Document | Required information |
|---|---|
| Arrest warrant or detention order | Issuing authority, date, reference number, and validity |
| Statement of facts | Time and place of the conduct, the victim, and the person’s alleged role |
| Applicable legislation | Elements of the offence, penalty, and limitation period |
| Identity information | Passport, photograph, nationality, and known address |
| Final judgment | Finality record and the remaining term to be served |
The documents should be prepared with an Arabic translation and in the authentication format accepted by the UAE authorities. Arabic and Latin spellings of names, passport numbers, and dates of birth must be cross-checked. The translation must not use free wording that could alter the legal characterization of the conduct.
Provisional arrest and a Red Notice
If the person is found in Dubai, provisional arrest may be requested before the formal extradition file is completed. Dubai Interpol proceedings are important for locating the person and checking records, but an Interpol notice is not, by itself, a court order.
A Red Notice is an international cooperation request based on a national arrest warrant. UAE authorities decide on provisional arrest under federal law and their own procedures. Failure to deliver the formal request within the applicable time limit may result in release.
When may the UAE refuse extradition?
Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 provides grounds for refusal including UAE nationality, UAE jurisdiction over the offence, political or purely military offences, suspicion of discriminatory prosecution, an investigation or judgment in the UAE concerning the same conduct, and expiry of the limitation period.
Surrender may be refused where there are substantial reasons to believe that the request aims to prosecute or punish the person because of race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. In cases involving a judgment rendered in absentia, defence rights and guarantees of a retrial may also be examined according to the circumstances.
Special attention in commercial and financial offences
Dubai-related files frequently involve allegations concerning company management, investments, crypto-assets, money laundering, or international fraud. Failure to pay a contractual debt must be distinguished from fraudulent conduct existing from the outset. Bank movements and company records may demonstrate whether the allegation is merely a civil dispute.
A request to seize assets or collect evidence is a mutual legal-assistance measure separate from extradition. If Turkey seeks bank records or digital data in the same case, the legal basis and the precise measure requested must be stated clearly for each procedure.
Challenging the decision in Dubai
The person and counsel may raise mistaken identity, dual criminality, the penalty threshold, nationality, final judgment, political motivation, and human-rights risks under UAE procedure. The remedy and deadline must be determined according to the type of decision and competent court; action should not be based on estimated time limits.
In Turkey, remedies under the Code of Criminal Procedure may be used in relation to the underlying arrest warrant, investigation, or conviction. The page on extradition proceedings in Turkey describes the reverse situation in which Turkey is the requested state; the court procedure directly applicable to a Dubai case is governed by UAE law.
What happens in Turkey after surrender?
An extradited person may be prosecuted or required to serve a sentence only for the offences specified in the request. Proceedings for another offence may depend on the rule of speciality and the UAE’s consent. An extradition decision does not establish guilt; the presumption of innocence continues during investigation and trial.
An Interpol record may not be updated automatically after surrender or refusal of extradition. Where necessary, a separate application to the CCF may be required for the removal of a Red Notice record.
Coordinated assessment of the file
The local proceedings in Dubai, correspondence with the UAE central authority, and the Turkish criminal case should be monitored simultaneously. Attorney Esra Aslan may be contacted for a document-based assessment of the extradition request, translations, and Interpol record. The outcome depends on the circumstances of each case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dubai directly surrender a person to Turkey?
No. Measures taken by local authorities in Dubai operate within the UAE’s federal extradition and central-authority system.
Is there a separate extradition treaty between Turkey and Dubai?
Dubai is not a separate state. The legal review is conducted under the applicable arrangements between Turkey and the UAE and UAE federal law.
Does a Red Notice lead to immediate arrest in Dubai?
Not automatically. UAE authorities assess the conditions for provisional arrest under their own law.
Can a UAE national be extradited to Turkey?
UAE nationality is listed among the grounds for refusing extradition under federal law.
Can a commercial debt constitute grounds for extradition?
A debt alone is not a ground for extradition; specific conduct such as fraud that constitutes an offence in both countries must be shown.
Which language is used in extradition from Dubai?
The Arabic translation of the request and attachments, together with the authentication format required by the UAE, should be verified before submission.
Is the Interpol record deleted if extradition is refused?
No. Although the refusal decision is important, a separate application concerning the record may still be required before the CCF.
This article is for general information only. UAE federal legislation, court deadlines, and applicable international legal grounds must be checked in their current form for each individual case.
